Will these amphibious influencers make an IRL comeback?
This is Sandra Tsing Loh with the Loh Down on Science.
Axolotls have overtaken the internet with their funky frills. But despite their social media presence, the wilderness lacks-olotl axolotls. Habitat destruction has left under a thousand in the wild. What can we do?
Enter Alejandra Ramos and team at the National Autonomous University of Mexico.
They released eighteen captive-bred axolotls into restored wetland habitats in Mexico and tracked their survival. These axolotls gained weight – a sign that they are thriving!
What’s more? The public can support the axolotls’ comeback through the “Adopt an Axolotl” fundraiser.
From viral to viable, it’s time for these internet stars to unplug and relax-olotl.
Reference: Ramos, Alejandra G, Horacio Mena, David Schneider, and Luis Zambrano. “Movement Ecology of Captive-Bred Axolotls in Restored and Artificial Wetlands: Conservation Insights for Amphibian Reintroductions and Translocations.” PLOS ONE 20, no. 4 (2025): e0314257. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0314257.
Kim, Juliana. “To Save Axolotls, a Campaign in Mexico Asks People to Virtually Adopt Them.” NPR. NPR, November 27, 2023. https://www.npr.org/2023/11/27/1215247480/save-axolotls-mexico-endangered-virtual-adoption.